Background
Zabka was born on November 6, 1924 in Des Moines, Iowa, United States; the son of Frank and Marie Geraldine (Buresh) Zabka.
Zabka was born on November 6, 1924 in Des Moines, Iowa, United States; the son of Frank and Marie Geraldine (Buresh) Zabka.
Stanley Zabka attended Illinois University and Northwestern University. He received a Bachelor's degree from De Pauw University in 1949.
Zabka began his career as a news chief at American Forces Network in Frankfurt in 1951 and held the position for two years. In 1954, he worked as an associate director and director at NBC-television and held the position for ten years. Since 1975 Stanley has been a producer and director of motion pictures, music and television production at NBC-television.
He earned recognition as a composer of memorable theme music for various Pulitzer, Christopher, and Emmy-award winning television specials. Zabka is the co-composer with Al D'Artega of "Chimes", the original Tonight Show theme, the marching band version of which later became the signature theme of NBC Network Sports for many years.
He was as an assistant director in motion pictures such as "Midnight Run", "Bronco Billy" and "Any Which Way You Can", "Romancing The Stone", "A Change of Seasons", "Forced Vengeance", "Streets of L. A.", "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" and "The Eddie Capra Mysteries".
Zabka is a member of the National Association of Television of Arts and Sciences, American Guild of Authors and Composers, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and Sigma Nu.
On August 2, 1964 Stanley Zabka married Nancy Heimert. They have 3 children.
He starred in more than thirty feature films, including "Back To School", "European Vacation", "Just One Of The Guys" and had a four-year recurring role on the "Equalizer". In 2001, Billy wrote and produced his first film, "Most". Also in 2007, Billy wrote, directed and starred in a short film and music video called "Sweep The Leg" for Astonish Records and the band, "No More Kings".
He is an Artist Representative and Account Executive for World Vision Artists. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music theory and religion from Belmont University in 1992.
